Commentary: Homestand a missed chance for Red Sox

BOSTON — Monday night at Fenway Park there was a bolt of lightning followed by claps of thunder.

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By Lenny Megliola

seacoastonline.com

By Lenny Megliola

Posted Jul. 8, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Lenny Megliola
Posted Jul. 8, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

BOSTON — Monday night at Fenway Park there was a bolt of lightning followed by claps of thunder.

These weren't the sounds of Red Sox bats exploding (don't be silly). It was the power of Mother Nature forcing the Chicago White Sox, engaged in batting practice, to gather up their equipment and run for cover before the rain came, which it did, pushing the start of the game back 39 minutes.

This 10-game homestand was looked at by many as the Red Sox' shot to put something together and let the AL East know they were still emotionally involved with the proceedings. Boston just hadn't been able to get the offense going. Decent pitching got washed away by putrid run support. One-run losses piled up; clutch hits were rarer than a Kardashian lucid thought.

There was still time though, for the Red Sox to get their act together, so the story went. And if 10 games at friendly Fenway, well, if that didn't lift the Red Sox, maybe they were already dead. In last place anyway.

Golden chance homestand? The Red Sox were 1-5, and hoping Clay Buchholz could supply a boost Monday against the White Sox. He could not, as the lifeless Red Sox took a deep fall, 4-0. The Red just got two hits. Would anybody be surprised if they go 1-9 before they ship out to Houston for the weekend?

"It's not like we're not trying," said Buchholz. "It's just not working out."

Buchholz's career numbers at Fenway against Chicago weren't heartening. In three starts he'd given up 18 hits in 17 2/3 innings. The ERA was 5.09.

He got burned by the long ball in this one. Adam Dunn drilled a bases loaded shot in the 2nd inning, Dayan Viciedo a devastating three-run shot in the 4th. Both were bombs. Homers, among other things, have been a problem for Buchholz. The count now is 12 in 13 starts.

Dunn doubled in the 4th with one out, then Buchholz walked Alexi Ramirez. "I can't walk Alexi right there," said Buchholz. "I've got to stay away from walks. Seems like the walks always wind up scoring."

Sure enough, Viciedo followed with his blast.

Buchholz went seven innings and gave up five hits, a walk and punched out seven. Not a brutal line, but not inspiring either. "I felt good," he said. "My curveball was crisp. I felt good right into the seventh. The two homers were mistakes."

Aren't they always?

"I don't have any answers," said Brock Holt. "We're just not getting results."

No answers, no results. When it gets this bad, it snowballs on you a little bit," said Buchholz, who dipped to 3-5 with a 6.11 ERA.

Through six innings the Red Sox could only get one hit off unremarkable righthander Scott Carroll. That's how bad it's gotten.

At the top of his game Buchholz was a mystery to hitters. He had the best stuff on the Red Sox staff. The skinny righthander at his best was, to quote the great Eck, "A beautiful thing."

Buchholz, who turns 30 Aug. 14, remains a mystery, but only to himself. OK, also to his manager, general manager and teammates, and toss in the paying customers too.

The mystery has turned to frustration felt by all the above. Staying in the rotation has been burdensome for Buchholz. Since 2008 when he joined the Boston rotation Buchholz had made more than 16 starts just twice, 2010 when he was 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA and 2012 (11-8, 4.56).

Monday night against the White Sox, and beleaguered by a heavy 6-22 ERA, Buchholz's 13th start was five less than Jon Lester, John Lackey and Jake Peavy. A knee problem landed Buchholz on the DL May 28. He came back June 25.

That pretty much covers his body. Buchholz's psyche might be another story. There have been whispers that he fragile, not tough enough, weak-minded. But nobody but the patient understands how badly something hurts.